I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act and the introduction of the Species Conservation Act.

This proposal significantly weakens existing protections for vulnerable species by shifting to a registration-first approach, which could allow harmful activities to commence without thorough environmental assessments. Research shows that preventative measures are far more effective than reactive ones; once species are lost, recovery becomes exceedingly difficult and expensive. For example, the decline of the Eastern Meadowlark due to habitat loss exemplifies how gaps in protection can lead to irreversible consequences.

Furthermore, granting the government discretion to add or remove species from the protected list undermines the integrity of scientific assessments made by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). This could lead to decisions driven by political rather than ecological considerations, exacerbating the risk of extinction for already vulnerable species.

Removing the definition of "harassment" from species protections is also deeply concerning, as many species are negatively affected by human activities that do not kill or injure them outright.

In summary, the proposed changes risk degrading Ontario's biodiversity and contravene the principle of sustainable development. A healthy ecosystem is foundational to both economic prosperity and public health, and we must ensure our laws reflect that.